Spontaneously combustible substances

classification scheme defines spontaneously combustible substances as substances which are liable to heat spontaneously under normal conditions encountered in transport, or to heat up in contact with air and then to catch fire. 

The spontaneous combustibility described above is judged by the following tests.  

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HS(Gjl31 Energetic and spontaneously combustible substances identification and safe handling... 

Spontaneously Combustible and Pyrophoric Substances Spontaneously combustible substances will readily react with the oxygen in the atmosphere, igniting and burning even without an ignition source. Ignition may be immediate, or may result from a self-heating process that may take minutes or hours (hence, some spontaneously combustible substances are known as self-heating materials). 

Pyrophoric and other spontaneously combustible substances will generally be identified as such on their product literature, material safety data sheets (MSDSs), or International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs). If transported, these substances should be identified as DOT/UN Hazard Class 4.2 materials for shipping purposes and labeled as spontaneously combustible. For pyrophoric substances, the NFPA 704 diamond for container or vessel labeling has a red (top) quadrant with a rating of 4, indicating the highest severity of flammability hazard (NFPA 704, 2001). Note that pyrophoric materials often exhibit one or more other reactivity hazards as well, such as water reactivity. 

Lists of pyrophoric materials that include less common chemicals, including metals, can be found in volume 2 of Brethericks Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards (Urben, 1999). Other spontaneously combustible substances are tabulated by their proper shipping names and UN/NA numbers in the U.S. Dept, of Transportation regulation 49 CFR 172.101. 

Question 7 Pyrophorics and Other Spontaneously Combustible Substances... 

Inadequate cleanout of equipment containing spontaneously combustible substances, prior to opening to the air for maintenance... 

Capable of igniting and burning in air without the presence of an ignition source. Pyrophoric materials are spontaneously combustible, although some pyrophorics require the presence of a minimum amount of moisture (humidity) to spontaneously ignite. Other spontaneously combustible substances and mixtures may require more time or an insulating environment to self-heat to the point of ignition. 

Spontaneously combustible substances, screening methods, 43 5 Springfield, Massachusetts incident, 7 Startup/full-scale operation, chemical reactivity hazard management, 23-24 Storage... 

Substances liable to spontaneous combustion. Substances which are susceptible to spontaneous heating during transport substances which heat up in contact with the air and catch fire... 

Class 4 Inflammable solids, substances liable to spontaneous combustion, substances which on contact with water, emit inflammable gases. 

Reactive chemicals sometimes cause an explosion after long storage. The cause of the explosion may be the generation of an explosive peroxide. In order to avoid such accidents, one should be familiar with the atomic groups which generate peroxides. These groups are listed in the table 3 41. Based on Bretherick s book, a table 8 of spontaneously combustible substances, water—reactive substances, and unstable substances has been prepared. This table is in the Japanese edition of this book. It may be helpful for individuals to prepare similar tables of structural formulas specific to hazardous substances by using data from references. 

Spontaneously combustible substances 4.2 Highly flammable R 17 EC Method A 13... 

Spontaneously combustible substances are those which catch fire without arty spark or flame being applied. 

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